What is Condo Knitting?

A closeup on condo knitting worked with a size 5 and a size 15 needle. Sarah E. White

If you were knitting in the 1970s, you might be familiar with the concept of condo knitting. Basically, it's a variation on Garter Stitch in which you work with needles of very different sizes, giving you alternating rows of small stitches and large stitches.

Knitting With Different Size Needles

Depending on the sizes of needles you choose, you can get a subtle mesh look or very dramatic openwork. Many patterns for condo knitting call for using one needle (you will actually need both needles of this set to cast on and bind off) with the size called for on the ball band of the yarn you're using and one size 35 US knitting needle, but you can really use any large needle you've got handy.

You might want to experiment with different sizes of large needles to get the look you want for your knitting project.

The example shown in the picture, for instance, used a size 5 needle and a size 15 needle. This makes much smaller "big" stitches, which gives the effect almost of dropped stitches rather than huge holes in the knitting.

The stitch is very stretchy but fun to work and can be effective as a scarf pattern. It works on any number of stitches.

Condo Knitting Stitch

To begin: Cast on using your smaller needle (the size indicated on the ball band of your yarn). Knit the first row with the small needles.

Row 2: Knit using the larger needle.

Repeat these two rows.

Finishing: When you're ready to bind off, end with a row worked with the smaller needle and bind off using both of the small needles.